And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with
her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until
she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with
fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to
give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the
redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38 ESV
Anna is the
last witness that Matthew and Luke call
forward in the Christmas story to demonstrate that the Christ Child was the
Messiah. These witnesses include Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, John the Baptist
(while still in the womb), the Shepherds, The Magi, Simeon, and finally Anna
the prophetess.
None of the people
would have known who Jesus was if God had not shown them individually. God sent a message to each one of them saying
, that Jesus was God's one and only Son, the Messiah of Israel. Matthew 18: 16 says "every charge must established by two or
three witnesses." God produced
eight witnesses to point the way to His Son.
Anna like Simeon was
a prophetess who prayed daily in the temple. She was in extreme old age like
Simeon was and had been waiting for
Jesus. Just like Simeon she prophesied over the boy.
Anna's prophecy is
similar to Simeon's but it contained an important difference. Simeon's prophecy
was "Behold, this child is appointed for
the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a
sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many
hearts may be revealed." His
word describe Jesus as a warrior and a leader and spoke to those who wanted a
Messiah to be king.
But Anna spoke of
Jesus to those who waited for Christ to be the redeemer of Israel. Christ would be king, but he would also be
redeemer. A king takes what he wants. A
redeemer pays for what he wants. Jesus
would become the spiritual king of God's people through paying for all the sins
of God's people.
Jesus came to be a
leader, but even more He came to be a redeemer. He did not come to destroy but
to love; not to rule by force but to rule
through love and sacrifice. He
would establish a kingdom on earth founded on love not coercion.
Today we give God
thanks that Jesus is both Lord and Savior of humankind. As lord He rules. As
savior, he did does not impose His will upon us, but declared forgiveness and God's favor upon us, so that we may be
with Him forever. This is the reason
that Christ came to earth.
"Father, we thank you that you gave us so many
witnesses to your grace. May our lives be a witness to your glory. In Jesus'
Name, Amen."
